Ryan James Hoyt (born August 10, 1979) was an associate of Jesse James Hollywood and was convicted of the murder of Nicholas Markowitz on August 9, 2000.[1] He reportedly owed Hollywood money for drugs and was offered the opportunity to kill Markowitz as a way of erasing his debt.[2]

During his trial, Hoyt took the stand and told the court he did not remember confessing to killing Markowitz.[3][4] In November 2001, Hoyt was convicted of first-degree murder[5] and was sentenced to death.[6] He is currently on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison in California.[7]